Difference between alto flute and normal flute

If you've ever been wondering what an alto flute is, and how it's different to a normal flute, here is your answer, complete with a demonstration!
Jane xx
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[@joeg46Highlands]

John Coltrane's only listed recording on flute was on an alto flute. When Eric Dolphy moved to Europe he invested in new instruments. He died suddenly in Berlin and his parents gave his instruments to Coltrane. Seeing Eric Dolphy on film, playing flute, in 1959 - "Jazz on a Summer's Day" - was my reason for learning flute at high school.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Wow that's awesome fun facts! What great inspiration! 😀

[@michaellee2731]

Oh my gosh alto flutes are so much fun to play. I own a Pearl alto flute and I love it so much

[@JaneFluteSchool]

That's awesome Michael! 😀 They are definitely beautiful instruments! 😊

[@jmurray9529]

Easy lovers - piero piccioni , this piece and a few others have convinced me to start playing the flute and switching from the saxophone

[@JaneFluteSchool]

That's awesome! All the best for the start of your flute journey! 😀

[@fxantunes8294]

That is the same music that made me into flute :) what other pieces convinced you?

[@elizabethhunt5536]

Hi Jane, there's an alto flute improv midway through California Dreamin' by the Mamas and Papas (1960s recording)!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Yes you're right! I love that piece! 😀

[@MyRackley]

Funny you say that. I think Bud Shank may be playing a concert flute with a B foot on the Mamas & Papas recording. The song is in Emaj/C♯m and he goes down to B (the 5 of E) in his solo. But he later recorded the song as an instrumental (with Chet Baker 🎺), this time definitely with an alto flute. He performs it here in E♭maj/Cm concert, which is A♭maj/Fm on the alto flute and he doesn't need a B foot because the 5 of A♭ is E♭. I hope you're following me, lol! Bud Shank also played baritone, tenor and alto sax. Probably other woodwind!

[@eastmarvista3267]

Informative video. I would like to see a video focused on people transitioning to Alto Flute. I'm one of those who is considering transitioning to Alto, but don't know how to approach it. What do I need to know about embouchure? Air volume? Handling a heavier flute? What exercises do I focus on? etc... To date, I haven't seen any video addressing transitioning to Alto. It would be great to see such a video.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi French, That is a great suggestion! If I get my hands on another alto flute in the future I will keep this in mind! 😊

[@andrewquirey7364]

if you ever have seen the bond flim Thunderball it was used in the underwater scene where thay stole the nuclear bombs from the old falcon bomber. Most have been a great acoustic or something.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Oh cool! That's awesome! 😀

[@spider23000]

The scores from those old Disney animated movies from the 60s which I grew up with, were all heavy on the woodwind, and you can usually hear at least one alto flute solo. (Watch The Jungle Book (1967) and listen carefully to the score.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Yes definitely! Such beautiful music! 😀

[@candacebehuniak6449]

Jane, I am working on Ian Anderson's Jethro Tull's "Living in the Past" to compliment my C Flute part. I am excited to add this sound to as many rock and heavy metal scores as I am going to record. Recently I have been able to borrow one and am saving for one of my own. Also, I am getting a piccolo from a flautist friend for a present soon so I will start a flute family of my own. Love the Harry Potter scores. Inspirational.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

That's awesome Candace! 😊

[@sahanulgen7214]

Thanks! It was a great piece of information for someone like me starting out and in dilemma.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Glad you enjoyed the video! 😊

[@andrewquirey7364]

Revell was a great exponent of the alto flute he used it to great effect in his Dafnis et chole where the c flute had a big glasando with piccolo at the end which led onto the altovery beautiful hunting sound effect plus holst . Great impressionist music of the early 20th century. Love the alto myself.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Thanks for your comment Andrew! Glad you love the Alto flute too! 😀

[@NomeDeArte]

Question, what about the finger? It's the same as anormal flute, or it's different? You only need to work on the embouchure for the lower notes or what else? Thanks for sharing, best regards!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

The fingering for alto flute is mostly the same which makes the transition between these two instruments smoother. 😊

[@jamesigo6324]

Herbert Laws alto flute pieces & Paul Horn alto flute works back in the day.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Nice! 😊

[@helenlebras4776]

Does "For the love of a princess" from brave heart use an alto flute? Could that be played on an alto flute? It has that beautiful mellow tone. Also could you adapt a flute version of the flower duet to be played on a concert flute and slto flute? The difference between to two reminds me very much of the difference between a violin and viola. Have a lovely day Jane.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Helen! Ooh it might be! Yes the flower duet is such a lovely melody. That would be an awesome piece to transpose for alto flute and flute! 😊 Hope you have a lovely day too Helen!

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

Hi, Jane -- love your enthusiasm! Not only "Neptune", but also "Saturn" (especially the ethereal ending): also from "The Planets", although Holst specifies "Bass Flute" -- silly man! 😀 That, The Rite & Daphnis seem to be the "big three" of orchestral music (as far as I know); but I've recently come across some other examples from games and film that have revived my interest in flutes! Have you ever heard Bedazzled (1967 film)? Dudley Moore's masterpiece, I think, and features (in "Moon Time") alto flute with alto sax in unison -- an incredibly haunting effect you have to hear! Also (a bit more niche!) video game "Leisure Suit Larry Reloaded" features some lovely solo alto flute (in "A Lady of the Night"); also, "Leisure Suit Larry 7: Love for Sail" I don't think has any alto, but features some really great other flute stuff throughout (favourite: "Jamie"). (Bedazzled is also a great flute/flutes showcase throughout, too!) Links below! Bedazzled: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fF65fWmZg8p4sJo LSLR: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZ6xo4J-j798g80 LSL7: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4rFn2CbnLOpirM

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Thanks for the great repertoire and for the links! 😀

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

@@JaneFluteSchool Hope you enjoy! Love from the UK! ♥

[@shanecastle3348]

Hmm - J-P Rampal played a bass flute in Claude Bolling's "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio", the "Versatile" track. I probably have some alto flute somewhere in my classical collection but I'd have to go looking and it'd take hours. Oh, and Herbie Mann - I'm sure he has several alto selections. (I think "What's Going On" on "Push Push", for instance.) (Edit: removed a incorrect reference and adding that HM has several credits for alto on Push Push. I highly recommend Push Push if you have any liking at all for jazz.)

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Wow that's awesome Shane! Thanks for sharing these pieces with us! I'll definitely go and check them out! 😊

[@sallyford3925]

Hi Jane I have been trying to double on alto and concert flute but having huge problems with tuning on the alto. Any tips? Thanks.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Sally, That's awesome you're playing alto flute too! You could try practising with an electronic tuner or checking your intonation with a piano. 😀

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

Apparently "straight" altos are more in tune (or easier to play in tune) than the bent ones! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alto_flute

[@ShearWater509]

I don't know for 100% certain, but I think that the soundtrack for Aida uses an alto flute. It sure sounds like what you were playing. I'll see if I can find a link.

[@ShearWater509]

Here it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZycd4KtZahlpqc

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Ooh nice! I love that Opera! 😊

[@keynotespianostudiocanberr8275]

Herman Beeftink's gorgeous 'Birds' trio is arranged for two C flutes plus alto flute. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKbcXmSVaLmbd5I. The alto flute really makes a special contribution, adding a richness that's missing from his alternative version arranged for three C flutes (still lovely!).

[@kaidiamond27]

I love this piece!!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Wow that's awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this piece with us! 😊

[@bunny-bunny-bunny]

I love the Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood soundtrack and was excited to pick up one of my favorite pieces after learning flute again after playing when I was a kid. And then I realized it's an alto flute because of the range. :( (The song is Requiem for the Brigadier General) kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3bMppaYl711i6M

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Nice! 😀

[@cremesdavenir5644]

Do we play piccolo like flute or is there a difference ?

[@JaneFluteSchool]

In The Flute Academy in July, I'm releasing a technique workshop on piccolo which explains the differences between flute and piccolo. Here's the link to join The Flute Academy if you're interested in finding out what the differences are next month. www.flute.school/academy 😀

[@DeltaRana4]

As well as one of the most beautiful flute solos in the concert repertoire (see link at 7min 30sec), Daphnis et Chloe also has an alto flute part (see link at 10min 10sec). kzbin.info/www/bejne/f52of5dmpZuUiJY

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Ooh yes of course! So pretty! 😊 Thanks for sharing DeltaRana4!

[@andrewquirey7364]

Hold on wait till I get my magic wand.

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

so does that mean the flute is really a soprano flute or is the soprano flute really just the piccolo?

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Hi Josh, Great question! 😀 The flute is also called the Concert Flute or C Flute. There is actually a treble flute and soprano flute between the flute and piccolo although these instruments are quite rare. You can read further about these online if you're interested. Here's the wiki link for a quick reference. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Members_of_the_western_concert_flute_family

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

@@JaneFluteSchool oh ok didn't know soprano flute existed already, thanks!!

[@CloudyMcCloud00]

The piccolo is sopranino (c.f. recorder family). But if the high G flute is the soprano, maybe the C flute is mezzo soprano? 😀

[@katiabragina]

a beautiful demonstration, but at 1:10 the note should definitely read 'd sharp', not d natural.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Thanks for the insight! 😀

[@ivanperez6961]

Holst’s “The Planets: Neptune”!!!!

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Nice one! Such a great piece! 😀

[@flute-enthusiast6062]

Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Thank you for sharing flute-enthusiast! Love the name! 😊

[@WhimsyandWondrous]

Evenstar (Shore)

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Nice! 😀

[@beckyknopp8312]

California Dreamin’

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Great song! 😊

[@andrewquirey7364]

That looks like a sonarie Alto.

[@eveline1986]

please do not name it normal flute then it is soprano flute. I love you, mary me and so we will play together

[@JaneFluteSchool]

Aww you're so sweet! Glad you've been enjoying my videos! 😊

[@suzibikerbabe8073]

Is there a holder for the alto, one to help me hold it up? I tore my rotator cuff and I'm finding it impossible to hold up for longer than a couple minutes. Also, I have a hard time getting a sound after playing the regular C, is there a trick to making the switch or am I the only experiencing this.

[@JaneFluteSchool]

I'm not sure, but I know there are instrument holders for brass instruments so surely there would be one for an alto flute somewhere. Let us know if you do end up finding one as I'm curious to know! 😊